1986-1993 Yamaha Xvz 1300 Venture Royal Rear Fender Cover 26h-2163f-01-00 on 2040-parts.com

Ford future products: New vehicles get lighter, faster and move upscale

Ford Motor Co.'s future-product focus is on improved fuel economy by making its vehicles smaller and engines lighter without sacrificing performance, safety or luxury. It also wants to push the Ford brand more upscale to capture customers orphaned by the shutdown of the Mercury brand, and to attract new buyers with more product offerings. Ford has said 90 percent of its North American nameplates will be available with direct-injection turbocharged EcoBoost engines as standard equipment or as an option by 2013.

BMW M4 Convertible revealed. Price from £60,730

The BMW M4 Convertible (pictured) revealed We reported last month that the new BMW M4 Convertible would debut at this year’s New York Auto Show, and here it is ahead of that debut complete with trick folding metal roof, 425bhp and a price tag that just nicks over the £60k line. A direct replacement for the old M3 Convertible, the M4 Convertible will cost you just over £4k more than the M4 Coupe, but for the extra money you get the same car but with infinite headroom – and a big weight penalty. The new 3-piece metal folding roof can be tucked away in a mere 20 seconds at the flick of a switch, with better noise insulation than the M3 Convertible had and more room in the boot when the roof is down too.

Parker's iPhone app

Buying a second-hand car? Worried about how much to offer in part exchange for your old motor? Well, there’s an app for that… We’ve been testing a new application for the iPhone and iTouch called the Parker’s price checker, and on first inspection we’re rather impressed.